Italy

Sarah Greene
Arcadia University (Partner Program) in Florence at the Academia Italiana, Summer Semester 2003

"I am a Textiles and Apparel Management major and business minor. I chose to study in Florence, Italy because Italy is so fashion-oriented. I was able to explore different angles of the fashion business that I was not able to study here. The teachers at Academia Italiana were very helpful and knowledgeable. Not only was I able to learn so much in the classroom, but the school scheduled two fieldtrips to fashion shows to show us how the fashion industry worked. The course I took was called Intensive Fashion Design and was worth 6 credits. Our class met everyday from 9am to 1:30pm, and I loved going to class everyday. The city was a perfect size, too; I never once had to take a taxi anywhere. The people are also very friendly, and there are so many neat things you can do in your free time-not to mention the time available to travel on the weekends. The train systems are also very accommodating. I met a lot of new people and became familiar with another culture. Within a couple of weeks I blended in; I became a part of a new world that I would have never known had I not studied abroad. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life to become part of a new society that welcomed me in.

"If you have any questions about this program or studying in Florence, please e-mail me at seg4b5@mizzou.edu."

Stacey Specht
Truman State University (Partner Program) in Florence at Scuola Lorenzo di Medici, Winter Semester 2001

"My experience in Florence completely broadened my horizons and widened my world views. The Italian culture is very different from the American culture. It is completely passionate: passionate about art, fashion, religion, food, and love! And Florence is the epitome of all of these things. The city of Florence is a smaller city, which makes it easy to find your way around, but still large enough that you will never see all of the sights. It is the birthplace of the Renaissance and art abounds every place you look. The city is centered around the il Duomo, the cathedral which is an architectural masterpiece. Within walking distance from il Duomo and all the major museums is L'Scuola Lorenzo Di' Medici, the international institute where I studied. This is not an Italian University, so you will not be studying with Italians, but it is also not an island program where you study with only Americans. The institute is a host for international students. While most of my fellow students were American, I also made friends from Iceland, Holland, France, Sweden and Belgium. The teachers were also international and taught a wide array of classes, instructed in English, ranging from art history and studio art courses to cooking, wine tasting, literature, and even business.

"I am a Communication major and was able to take an intercultural communication class that counted toward my major. The classes were very hands-on and included many fieldtrips and outside work (especially the art history courses, considering the whole city is a museum). Though there is no Italian requirement to get into the program, students must take Italian while they are there. I lived in the Residence Ricosili, which is like an extended stay business hotel. It was very clean, convenient and close to school-- plus a great way to meet other students! During my semester study, I was also able to arrange my classes so that I had four-day weekends, which made it perfect for traveling. There is so much to see just in the country of Italy, not to mention the fact that Europe is right at your fingertips. I completely recommend Florence and this program because it is an amazing opportunity to explore European history and culture in its finest form. The only thing I regret is not staying longer. Ciao!" E-mail: SMS_Rainmaker@hotmail.com.